Automated dispensing system for pharmaceuticals and other medical items

• US 9,280,863 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Longley, Mark, Spignesi, Robert G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US12/502,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,429 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A system for dispensing a plurality of customized doses of pharmaceuticals includes: a housing; a customer interaction station; a customized packaging station configured to selectively package individual doses of medication into customized packaging, the medications being selected responsive to input from the customer input station; and a controller connected to the customer interaction station and the customized packaging station, the controller configured to control the customized packaging based on customer input from the customer interaction station.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing regulated substances from a system for dispensing same, comprising:

receiving, via a customer interaction station, customer-specific data input that identifies a customer;

receiving, via the customer interaction station, photographic or biometric input that identifies a customer;

receiving, via the customer interaction station, a request for a regulated substance;

comparing the identity of the customer corresponding to the customer-specific data to the customer identified by the photographic or biometric input;

determining whether the identified customer is approved to receive the requested regulated substance;

dispensing the regulated substance to the customer responsive to a positive determination and a positive comparison from a dispensing station; and

automatically verifying the identity of the regulated substance prior to dispensing of the regulated substance from the dispensing station.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the comparing step is performed by the controller.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the comparing step is performed manually.